Children Among 25 Killed in Deadly Russian Attack on Western Ukraine
At least 25 people, including three children, have been killed after Russian drones and missiles struck two residential blocks in Ternopil, western Ukraine. Another 73 people were injured, 15 of them children, in what officials describe as one of the deadliest attacks in the region since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
The strikes also hit the western regions of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, and drone attacks on Kharkiv wounded more than 30 people. Photos shared online show homes and cars in flames, with massive plumes of smoke rising over residential areas.
Ukraine’s air force reported that it intercepted 442 of 476 Russian drones and 41 of 48 missiles, including 10 cruise missiles downed by F-16 and Mirage 2000 jets. But with stretched air-defence systems and a vast territory to protect, officials warn that some attacks inevitably break through, often with devastating impact, as seen in Ternopil.
President Volodymyr Zelensky shared videos showing one of the apartment blocks completely collapsed from the third to the ninth floor. Rescue teams say more affected persons may still be trapped under the rubble.
Energy facilities and civil infrastructure were also targeted across western Ukraine. In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, two of the wounded were children. Lviv’s regional head confirmed an energy facility had been hit as Russia intensifies strikes on Ukraine’s power grid ahead of another harsh winter.
As the war approaches its fourth anniversary, the humanitarian toll continues to grow, especially for children caught in the crossfire.
This attack is a reminder of every child’s right to life, safety, and protection from armed conflict, as guaranteed under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. No child should lose their home, their health, or their life due to conflict. It is the obligation of all parties to ensure that children and civilian populations are shielded from violence.
